The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 12, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 April 1980 — Page 11

United Methodists will gather in Indianapolis

The nearly 1,000 delegates and some 5,000 other persons who are expected to come to Indianapolis in April to attend the 1980 United Methodist General Conference will quickly learn that Monument Circle in Indianapolis is not only the geographical and symbolic heart of Indiana’s capitol city, but, also the site where some of Central Indiana’s early church life took place. Rev. William Cravens, a 300pound Methodist minister who dressed in a gingham gown on a hot day, held a service there in 1821. Churches of at least three other denominations also sprouted and cultivated early activity on the Circle, but only Christ Church Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese stands there today. Historians s,ay the first Methodist sermon of record was preached in Indianapolis by Rev. Resin Hamilton in 1819 under a walnut tree just south of where the state capitol now stands. Early Methodists worshipped in a hewed log building south of the Circle from 1825 to 1829. Then they built a brick church on the Circle where they worshipped unti 1846. Just a four-block walk to the south west of the 285 foot high Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which has dominated the Circle since the 1890 s, past the state capitol building and a major hotel complex, is the Indiana Convention and Exposition Center, designated site for action of United Methodism’s top legislative assembly, the General Conference, April 15-25. From its frontier, classmeeting beginnings along the Ohio River, Hoosier United Methodisfa has grown to 1,426 congregations with more than 325,000 members. The episcopal leader is Bishop Ralph T. Alton, who is the 1979-1980 president of the denomination s Council of Bishops. In its recent history, Methodism in the state, under the leadership of Bishop Richard C. Raines from 1948 until his retirement 20 year later, was known for innovations. The Indiana Area pioneered in establishing, pastoral counseling centers and was one of the first to utilize a full-time administrative assistant to the bishop and a fulltime public relations director. One of the key leaders in the 1968 merger of the Methodist Church and the ( Evangelical United Brethren Church. Bishop Reuben H. Mueller, presided over the EUB West Central Area, which included Indiana, from 1954 to 1968. The one time oresident of the National Council

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of Churches was then named bishop of the Indiana Area, comprising the North and South Indiana annual conferences, when the two denominations became the United Methodist Church. With the 1980 sessions, the United Methodist conferences will be meeting in Indiana for the first time. The general conference of the United Brethren in Christ met in Indiana in 1921, that of the Evangelical Association in 1891 and that of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1856. The latter discussed slavery, endorsed theological schools and authorized the election of missionary bishops. Looking back to its early history, Methodism came into Southern Indiana territory across the Ohio River. Inspired by Kentucky’s Cane Ridge Revival, exhorters crossed northward in 1810. Nathan Robertson is said to JK- a TO BE AT NAPPANEE — The Nappanee First Church of God is hosting a Christian Brotherhood Hour Rally on Sunday, April 13. at 7 p.m. with CBH radio minister. Dr. James Earl Massey as guest speaker. GBH is heard weekly over 400 stations around the world. It is aired locally at 8:30 a.m. Sunday on WCMR. radio 1270. The program has been praised by leaders in government, education, radio, business and religion for its high quality. Dr. Massey has served in many capacities throughout the church world and has authored several theological books. The public is invited to attend the CBH rally. The church is located at the intersections of CR 7 and CR 54, Nappanee.

have built the first Methodist meeting house in the state on Clark’s Grant. Later named Old Bethel, the log structure was moved to DePauw University at Greencastle and restored in 1953. New Chapel at Jeffersonville and Old Salem Church at Charlestown grew out of congregations started in the same year as Robertson’s Meeting House and are still active today. The first Americanborn Bishop, William McKendree, once preached at New Chapel. Other Methodists came into Indiana from Ohio, organizing the Whitewater Circuit on the eastern side of the state about 1807. Francis Asbury made one visit to Indiana in 1808, crossing the White River by flat boat to Lawrenceburg. Handbell ringers to be at Syracuse on April 13 The Simpson Handbell Ringers will present a concert this Sunday night, April 13, at Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church in Syracuse at 7 p.m. The group is sponsored by the Simpson United Methodist Church in Elkhart. No admission fee will be charged for the concert but contributions will be accepted.

THE VALUE OF REAL WEALTH WILL NEVER DECREASE

n an almost daily basis, wearegiventhealarmmg news about the ever-diminishing value of our money, and this has triggered a frantic rush to buy gold, land or whatever; while people still have anything left to buy it with. This helps to illustrate the general futility of the drive for excessive riches, which we must pay for with higher taxes apd often, impaired physical condition. There are tragic examples of men and women — many in the prime of life — who could afford the finest medical care in the world, and yet were unable to buy back their health once they had lost or destroyed it. Learn in your chosen House of Worship that a good life of modest comfort, guided by God’s wisdom, is the finest form of wealth that we can accumulate; and the only kind that will never decline in value.

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GRACE BRETHRENCHURCH LEESBURG Ralph Burns. Pastor Sunday School 9:30 10:30a.m. Morning Worship 10 45 11:45a.m. Evening Worship 6 7 p.m Prayer Service, Thursday 7 Bpm SYRACUSE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH ( Corner Harrison & Pearl Sts.) David Hudson, Pastor Sunday School 10am. Praise and Worship, Sunday 7:30 p.m. Youth Service, Tuesday 7 p.m. Bible Study, Thursday 730 pm. WAWASEE LAKESIDE CHAPEL Harlan Steffen, Pastor Gary Moore, S.S. Supt Worship Service 10 a.m. Sunday School 11 a m CLUNETTE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Ken Fast, Pastor Worship Serv ice 9a. m. Sunday School 10:15a.m. BARBEE COMMUNITY CHURCH (Kuhn Drive, Little Barbee Lake) John Petgen, Pastor Sunday School 9 a m. Worship Service 10a.m. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday 7 p.m. MORRIS CHAPEL UNITEDMETHODIST (County Roads !SoNand37sE) Charles Taylor, Pastor Don Conley, Supt. Sunday School 9:30 am. Worship 10 30 a.m. SAINT ANDREW'S UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH SYRACUSE Rev. Philip Frew, Pastor Church School 9:15a.m. Worship Hour 10:30 a.m. UMYF6p.m. ZION CHAPEL U B CHURCH (Corner Syra. Web. Rd and 1000 N) Rev. Hubert Schmucker Bernard Roberts, S.S. Supt. Sunday School 9a.m. Worship 10 a.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. GOSHEN FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST Service 10:30a.m. Sunday School 10:30a.m. Wednesday Service 7:45p.m.

Speaking Words Os Vfisdom

By G. EDWARD GEANS. Minister of First Church of Christ, Bluffton, IN It is not uncommon to walk into the average household today and find a variety of ‘‘religious trinkets” decorating kitchen walls, fireplace mantles, and living room coffee tables. It would be rare, for instance, to find a home without the traditional family Bible. Many homes have the nativity scene every Christmas. Some homes have large beautifully woven tapestries depicting the Last Super or Christ’s agony in the garden of Gethsemane. Others have cloth calendars containing cherished Bible verses. With a sincere desire to confirm our faith (or convince ourselves of our faith) we Americans spend thousands of dollars annually to adorn our homes, offices, shops, automobiles, and even our clothes with religious ornaments ranging from the family Bible trimmed in gold to the slogan on the back of a dirty T-shirL Do theses things accurately speak for a deep faith in God? Or do they only serve as religious tokens born out of a shallow sentimentaliam? In not a few cases the family Bible is used to press out last year’s oak leaf, the wilted rose from the 25th wedding anniversary party of 10 years ago, or the September 11, 1947 newspaper article featuring the Bible’s owner as the city’s largest contributor to the “Help Save the Old Town Clock" campaign

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH (Armstrong Road) OSWEGO Dale W Parker, Pastor Sunday School 9 30a m. Morning Worship 10:30a.m. Sunday Evening Worship6p.m Thursday Prayer Meeting 7 p.m. SAINTMARTIN DE PORRES CATHOLIC CHURCH SYRACUSE Father Kenneth Sarazine Sunday Mass 7:15 a.m.. and 10 45 a m. Saturday Mass 6:15p.m. Confession Before Masses Holy Days7 am. and 7 30p.m HASTINGS ISLANDCHAPEL UNITED METHOD IST CHURCH David Widmoyer, Pastor Mike Zimmerman, Jr., Supt. Kendall Biller, Sypt. Sunday School 9:30a m Worship 10:30 a.m. Prayer Meeting Thursday 7:30 p.m. APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN MILFORD Theo Beer, Henry Beer, Jesse Beer, Elmer Hartter and Walter Steffen, Ministers Morning Worship 10a.m. Afternoon Worship 12:30p m. CHRISTIAN CHURCH MILFORD Richard Fehnel, Board Chm. Ed Hart, Sunday School Supt. Bible School9:3oa.m. Worship 10:30a.m. and7 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m. TURKEY CREEK CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN GRAVELTON Olden Mitchell, Pastor , Church School 9 30 a m. Worship 10:30a.m CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH CROMWELL (in W. Orange St.) John Hofer, Vice Pastor Sunday School 10a.m. Worship Service 11 a m. NEW SALEM CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN (900N&200E) Irvin Miller, Pastor Sunday School9:3oa.m. Worship 10:30a.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m.

sponsored by the “Old Order of Clock Watchers International’’ (whose members, by the way. were late for the celebration dinner). Inspired by the scenic beauty of country valleys with the "sweetest” words, hundreds of people soothe their consciences before God by placing such articles in conspicuous places to advertise their “faith” before men. I have in my possession several items I have saved through the years to remind me of old friends, college days, courtship, marriage, and special events in my life. To say these articles shape my values or establish my objectives would be untrue They are of sentimental value only. In much the same way, the cross on a necklace or bracelet is nothing more than a good luck charm for many people. The Bible records birth, marriage, and death, but seems to have little to say the rest of the time for many people. Do not misunderstand me. These things are not bad in themselves. I am simply asking that we examine our relationship with Christ. Such novelties must accurately represent a living faith in Christ to be valid. Jonh 3:16 must first find its way to our heart before it decorates our hearth. The cross should constrain us before it adorns us. Look again at the old family Bible. Is it real faith or only sentiment?

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall." —Proverbs 11:28

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UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH NORTHWEBSTER Rex Lindemood, Pastor Worshipß:3oa.rn and 10:45a‘.m. Church School 9 30 a m. BIBLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH NORTHWEBSTER Larry Zimmerman, Pastor Donny Guy, S.S. Supt. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 10 30 a.m.— 6 p.m. Wednesday Services 7p.m. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD LIGONIER WilliamOaksford, Pastor Church Service 9 a m. Sunday School 10 15a:m OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH (4th and Main Streets) MILFORD Rev. Maximilian Korecki, 0.F.M., Conv. Spanish mass noon Doctrina (CCD) Sunday 10:30a m. CHURCH OF GOD SYRACUSE Rev. Michael Murrell. Pastor Roger Kern, S.S. Supt. Sunday School9:-30a.m Morning Worship 10:30a.m. FIRST BRETHREN CHURCH MILFORD Paul Tinkle, Pastor Jerry Leiter, Supt Church School 9:30a m. Morning Worship 10:30a.m. BYCSunday6:3op.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7 p.m. BETHELCHURCHOF THE BRETHREN MILFORD Roger Eberly, Pastor Delbert Moneheffer. Bd.Chm Sunday School 9 30 a m. Worship 10:30 a.m. BETHANY CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN (U.S.A) F Wayne Lawson, Pastor Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10 30a.m. CHURCHOF THE BRETHREN SYRACUSE John McFarland, Pastor Howard Wenger, Supt. Sunday School 9:30a.m. Morning Worship 10:30a.m. Sunday Bible Study 7p.m.

Ephesians could be the 'Epistle of the Ascension'

By J. ROSS RICHEY Leesburg United Methodist Church The Epistle to the Ephesians has been called the “Epistle of the Ascension ” It is here that we meet the exalted Christ. This epistle is also known as the great Church Epistle. Nowhere in the New Testament is the church shown irfsuch lofty terms. One of, the great obstacles in writing of our Christian faith is the necessity to write concerning the Doctrine's of our Faith. A great many laypeople are really interested in Christianity as a way of life, but not at all inc terested in its skeleton parts which hold it together. It is almost as though they might say that they can keep the Christian standards of conduct and give up the Christian Articles of Faith. The ascension is one of the Articles of Faith, and we find it most interesting — and timely, coming so soon following the Easter story of the Resurrection — another of our Articles of Faith One should read Acts 1:1-14 in order* to understand what the faithful followers of Jesus were trying to say' about him when they said that He ascended into heaven and sat on the right hand of God As Modern Christians, we naturally have trouble seeing the event of the Ascention as New Testament people saw it We

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GRACE BIBLE CHURCH SYRACUSE Dr. David R Haifley, Pastor Robert F. Graff, Assoc Pastor Sunday School 9 :45 a m Morning Worship 11 a m Evening Service 7 p.m. Wednesday Evening Service7 p.m. JEHOVAH'S WITNESS KINGDOM HALL (East Papakeechie Lake Drive) Sunday: Public Lecture9;3oa m. Watchtower Study 10:30 am. Tuesday, Study of Prophecy 7:30 ■ p.m Thursday, Ministry School 7 p.m. SALEMCOMMUNITY CHURCH (Hi Mile Southeast of Wilmot) Pastor E Imer Miller Sunday School 9 30 a.m. Morning Worship 1 0:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Service 7 p m Prayer Bible Study Wednesday 7 p.m GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH SYRACUSE (200 E. Main St.) John Hofer, Vice Pastor Worship9:3oa.m. Sunday School 10 30a.m. CHURCHOFTHE NAZARENE SYRACUSE Norman Lincoln, Pastor Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10 30aim. Sunday Evening Worship 7 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7 p.m. CHURCHOF THE BRETHREN NORTHWEBSTER Paul F. Shrider, Pastor Morning Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30a.m. BURR OAK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Lawrence Byrnes, Pastor Sunday School 9:30 am. Worship 10:30 a.m. UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH LEESBURG Ross Richey, Pastor Bill Smith, Supt. Morning Worship9:3oa.m. Church School 10 30a m MILFORD CHAPEL (Beer Road) Ben Shirk, Pastor Dale Schertz, Supt. Sunday School 10a.m. Worship Service 11 a m Wednesday Service 7 p.m.

Wed., April 9,1980 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

4 V Jhave a tendency to concentrate our efforts on the preresurrected, pre-ascended Christ. Maybe we should take a good look at that In the New Testament, we have the simple Gospel Story. On the other hand we also have the epistles with their rather com-, plex theology. The Ascension, in the life and thought of the early church, had a very conspicuous place, occupying a position of crucial importance, yet. judging by the lack of published sermons on the Ascension, in present day life, we evidently have discounted its message or the significance of it. To visualize the ascension, aside from the mediaeval artists concept of what happened, is a bit difficult to come by. Mark 16:19 “When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at God’s right hand.” i TLB) Acts 1:9-11 is no doubt a more picturesque presentation: “It was not long afterwards that he rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after him,.As they were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them, and said. ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as he went, he will return!” (TLB) In this brief section, we have recorded not only the Ascension,, but the hope of his return.! Whatever else we believe about it, there is a definite time when the resurrection appearances, incomparably precious as they must have been, were definitely over. Jesus departed to “the heavenlies.” The early Christians indulged in no spiritualistic acrobatics to seek to return him to the earthly scene.

NORTH WEBSTER CHRISTIAN CHURCH Sunday School9:3oa.m Worship 10:30a.m. Wednesday Services 7 p m CHURCHOFGOO NORTHWEBSTER Brice Casey, Pastor Henry McCrey, Associate Pastor Worship 9 30 a m Sunday School 10:40 a.m. Evening Service 7 p.m. Family Night, Wednesday 7 p.m CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Paul Fulp, Pastor Worship9.lsa.m. Church School 10:15 a.m. WAWASEE HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH (Across From High School) Norman D. McVey, Pastor Larry Renner, S.S. Supt. Sunday School9:3oa.m. Worship 10:30a.m. and7p.m. Mid Week Wed 7 p.m. AWANA C tubs Thurs. 6 30 p m CALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (SR 13 South) SYRACUSE Paul Steele, Pastor Donald Sheline, Assoc. Church School 9:30a.m. Morning Worship 10:40a.m. Jr. & Sr. YF6:3Op m Sunday UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH MILFORD Paul Fulp, Pastor Robert Cline, Lay Leader Church School 9:30 am. Warship 10 30am UMYF Sunday6p.m. LAKELAND COMMUNITY CHURCH Rev. Roy Mickley. Pastor Sunday Schod9:3oa.m. Worship Service 10:30a.m. Evening Service 7 p.m. SOLOMON'S CREEK UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH F. Hazen Sparks, Pastor Worsh ip9:3oa.m. Sunday Schoollo:3oa.m. ALL SAINTS'CHAPEL (Episcopal) LAKE WAWASEE Vicar: Rev. David L. Hyndman Holy Eucharist9a m.

No repetitions of resurrection visions were expected Jesus, from this time forward, was the Exalted Christ, who in the words of the Apostle’s Creed, “Sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence? he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” Christian doctrine begins with an event, from which general conclusions are drawn and on which people, in faith, are willing to base their very lives. The Doctrine of the Ascension is such an illustration of this principle The event was the disappearance of Jesus. Everyone disappears sooner or later. Yet Jesus’ disappearance was different. He was different! His life had something that other human lives do not have; he accomplished something which no one else ever has done. After he died, he reappeared to his friends. While the form of his reappearance cannot be precisely defined, neither can it be denied. After his final disappearance, (the ascension) his influence was stronger than ever His presence was more really felt than before. His power continued to make itself felt through the fellowship of those whcxhad been, and those who were to become his followers Well, what of it? What did it mean’’ What conclusions were to be reached’’ Each one of us might come up with a different answer., but the conclusion which they reached was that “Jesus had ascended into heaven and was sitting at the right hand of God!’’ Note what a great leap from fact to faith! A ruling Christ to whom all the Caesars must’ ultimately yield! That was their conclusion and that became the doctrine of the Christian Faith. The first Christians believed that there could be no two ways about Jesus. They said. “He is not buried in the archives of history, nor lost in the shades of nothingness, nor held, like a fading image, in the human memory. Jesus is where God is — in heaven, where neither time nor space can get any limits whatsoever upon him and upon his manifested power.” What a wonderfpl faith! Christians today, because of their faith in the ascended Christ find new meaning to life, and new ways to minister because of their faith in a Living Christ.

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